This article is part of our DraftKings MLB series.
PITCHER
John Lackey, CHC vs. PHI ($11,400): Lackey is the latest Cubs starter that gets to take aim at a Phillies lineup that has been largely dominated over the first two games of the series. He's been excellent at Wrigley Field this season, generating a 2-1 record and 2.12 ERA, while holding opposing teams to a .182 batting average. The Phillies also have the fourth-lowest wOBA (.286) against right-handed pitching, along with a 21.5 percent strikeout rate. With a number of elite arms in action, Lackey makes for a nice cost-savings pivot off the top tier.
Drew Pomeranz, SD at ARI ($9,500): Speaking of quality pitching not named Clayton Kershaw or Chris Sale, we have Pomeranz, who sometimes seems to be forgotten despite a sparking 1.70 ERA. He's scored between 20.2 and 34.8 fantasy points in seven of his nine starts and has stymied both handedness of hitters this season. He's certainly fallen victim to poor run support at times, but even that may be in his favor Sunday, as the Padres will face the just-recalled Archie Bradley, who's generated a 6.26 ERA and 1.72 WHIP in 10 major league starts. Pomeranz brings excellent strikeout potential as well, even against a D-backs' offense that's tough on southpaws.
CATCHER
A.J. Pierzynski, ATL vs. MIA ($3,000): Pierzynski figures to be back in the lineup Sunday after a couple days off, just in time to see old friend Tom Koehler. The Braves catcher has battered the Marlins starter to the tune of a .471/.500/.882 line over 17 career at-bats, with a double, two homers, five RBI and a walk. Koehler has also given up a .385 wOBA to left-handed bats this season, and Pierzynski owns a .328 wOBA and 141 homers against right-handed pitching over his career.
FIRST BASE
Travis Shaw, BOS at TOR ($3,500): Shaw's bat is hot once more after some down games, and he's tallied double-digit fantasy points in three of his last four. He brings a .400/.500/.900 line against Blue Jays starter R.A. Dickey in 10 career at-bats, with two doubles, a homer, four RBI and two walks. Shaw is also sporting a .415 wOBA and .240 ISO against right-handed pitching this season, and Dickey has been on somewhat of a downslide over his last two starts, giving up nine runs (eight earned) and four homers over the last 12.2 innings, and he has allowed a .366 wOBA, six homers and a 5.92 FIP to lefty bats this season.
SECOND BASE
Chase Utley, LAD at NYM ($4,200): Utley has made a living off Bartolo Colon, hitting .500 (10-for-20) with two doubles, a homer and three RBI against him. The veteran second baseman has been swinging a hot bat as well, and provided a glimpse of his upside with 34 fantasy points Saturday on the strength of a two-homer night. While Colon has been tough on lefty bats this year (.280 wOBA surrendered), he's also yielded five of his six homers on the year to that handedness, along with a 42.7 percent hard contact rate. Meanwhile, Utley is posting a .406 wOBA and 42 percent hard contact rate himself against right-handed pitching.
THIRD BASE
Kyle Seager, SEA vs. MIN ($4,000): Seager has a .408 wOBA, .239 ISO and 42.4 percent hard contact rate against right-handed pitching this season, and opposing starter Ricky Nolasco has given up a .337 wOBA to left-handed bats. He's also struggled mightily in his last five starts, as he's generated an 8.14 ERA and surrendered 22 earned runs over that span.
SHORTSTOP
Xander Bogaerts, BOS at TOR ($4,100): Bogaerts has also hammered R.A. Dickey over his career, going 12-for-33 (.364) with four doubles, a homer and seven RBI. Besides the favorable BvP, there are few hitters in baseball hotter than the BoSox shortstop, whose average is up to .351 after a three-hit afternoon Saturday. Bogaerts' .378 wOBA against right-handed pitching this season certainly doesn't hurt his appeal either.
OUTFIELD
Adam Duvall, CIN at MIL ($3,700): For those looking to stack Reds bats against the home-run prone Jimmy Nelson, be aware that Duvall's teammate Jay Bruce ($3,900) is available for just $200 more and brings a very favorable BvP against the Brewers' starter. Duvall now has 11 homers on the season after hitting his third in four games Saturday, and he has demonstrated his considerable ceiling by eclipsing 20 fantasy points in the last two games. He's crushed right-handed pitching this season to the tune of a .376 wOBA and jaw-dropping .345 ISO, and he has 10 of his 11 homers against that handedness as well.
Khris Davis, OAK vs. DET ($4,300): When Mike Pelfrey is on the mound, it's never a bad idea to target him with some sluggers. Davis has been on a home-run tear of late, and 10 of his 14 home runs this season have come against right-handed pitching. He also has a .321 wOBA and 43 percent hard contact rate against that handedness, and Pelfrey has been blasted by righty bats for a .386 wOBA, 6.58 FIP and six of the 10 homers he's allowed.
Kevin Pillar, TOR vs. BOS ($2,300): With a few high-priced options listed, it's never a bad idea to also take a peek at what value might be had in the bargain bin. There are several interesting options, particularly with pricing apparently adjusted to the quality of the opposing pitchers on certain players, which leaves you with scenarios like Curtis Granderson available for bare minimum in his matchup against Clayton Kershaw. We'll spend a few hundred more to land on Pillar, who brings nice upside for this price. Yes, he's facing David Price, but the Red Sox's ace has had some troubles with righty bats this season. He's given up five of his six homers on the season to right-handed hitters, along with a 36.6 percent hard contact rate. Pillar's bat has started to come alive over the last few games, and he carries minimal risk at what should be very low ownership in tournaments.
